Zhao Fu and Fu Yun were actually from the same hometown, both born into poverty. However, their families had always been at odds, so despite being of the same age and entering the palace together, they seemed destined to be enemies. While Fu Yun stayed in the palace, Zhao Fu was assigned outside to serve the then Prince Xingwu, who would later become Emperor Xingwu. Thus, although they hated each other, they thought they would never have the chance to meet again in their lifetimes.
But when Prince Xingwu ascended to the throne as Emperor Xingwu, Zhao Fu, as his trusted eunuch, became the chief eunuch in the palace. Upon their reunion, although both were eunuchs, there was now a difference in their status. Zhao Fu always thought he had treated Fu Yun well enough. At least, when he was the chief eunuch, he never oppressed Fu Yun too much or secretly plotted against him. At most, he had some secrets in his heart; he didn’t want the Second Prince, Long Xuan, to become the next emperor.
After the Second Prince became Emperor, Zhao Fu realized he had underestimated Fu Yun’s hatred for him. Even if the chief eunuch was included in the burial list, Fuyun did not let him have a good life. Even a dying man was not spared. Zhao Fu regretted to not have acted when he could have easily killed Fu Yun.
As Zhao Fu was being escorted out of the Imperial Household Department by four eunuchs, he thought maybe his time had come. Well, that would be good; dying earlier would mean suffering less. Perhaps as a ghost, he could seek revenge on Fu Yun.
“Mr. Zhao?”
When Zhao Fu heard a familiar voice, he lifted his head and saw a familiar and beautiful face. He realized it wasn’t his time to die yet; there was still a way out. “Your Highness!” Zhao Fu prostrated himself before Luo Wei, unable to hold back his tears.
Seeing Zhao Fu, who was covered in wounds and crying in front of him, Luo Wei sneered at Long Xuan and said, “Your Majesty, is this the person you want to send to serve the late Emperor? Beaten like this, do you want the late Emperor to know how powerful this new Emperor is?”
Long Xuan glanced at Fu Yun. This dog of a eunuch was becoming bolder and bolder.
Fu Yun was already kneeling on the ground, reporting to Long Xuan, “This servant will definitely go to the Internal Affairs Department to find out who dared to act so boldly!”
“Imperial Physician Wei,” Luo Wei turned to Imperial Physician Wei after hearing Fu Yun’s words, “you must bear to be tired a little more and treat Mr. Zhao’s injuries.”
“Yes,” Imperial Physician Wei hurriedly agreed. He didn’t think treating injuries for a eunuch would be beneath his dignity.
“Don’t be sad, Mr. Zhao,” Luo Wei said to Zhao Fu, who was being helped up by two young eunuchs. “Your fate has offended some petty people. After you recover from your injuries, go to the Buddha and offer incense, asking the Buddha to open his eyes and take care of those villains sooner rather than later.”
“Hurry, let’s take him away,” Imperial Physician Wei said from the side. “We’ll find a place where he can lie down to look at his injuries.”
“Your Majesty?” Zhao Fu looked towards Long Xuan. Without Long Xuan’s nod, who would dare leave this room?
“Go ahead,” Long Xuan waved his hand.
The group retreated.
Fu Yun knelt in the center of the room, trembling under the gaze of both Long Xuan and Luo Wei.
“Do you really want this slave to die?” Long Xuan asked Luo Wei.
“If he dies, wouldn’t that be too easy for him?” Luo Wei looked at Fu Yun. “He still has so much wrongdoing left to do. Your Majesty only has this capable person by your side. It’s better to let him live.”
“Go out and receive your punishment,” Long Xuan said to Fu Yun. “Stop when Prince Jin says it’s enough.”
“You want me to oversee the execution right away?” Luo Wei said. “Do I also have to take responsibility for treating his injuries?”
“Go to the Internal Affairs Department,” Long Xuan corrected himself.
“Mr. Fu, I don’t want your life either,” Luo Wei told Fu Yun. “Go and receive a hundred lashes first. We’ll talk about the rest later.”
“Thank you for sparing my life, Your Highness,” Fu Yun bowed to Luo Wei.
“No need to be so polite,” Luo Wei said coldly. “I know you wish for my death, you slave. Let’s wait and see. Rather than killing you, I prefer to make you wish you were dead.”
“Get out of here,” Long Xuan listened to Luo Wei’s words and suddenly felt a bit sorry for this eunuch who had been by his side since childhood. After all, he had served him faithfully all these years.
Fu Yun hurriedly left, knowing that he couldn’t escape Luo Wei’s resentment. His only hope now was that he was still useful to his master, and his master did not seem to want his life.
With only the two of them left in the room, Long Xuan asked Luo Wei, “Are you satisfied?”
“It’s time for Your Majesty to go to Changming Hall,” Luo Wei said. “I also want to rest.”
“Is it because of Wei Lan that you hate me?”
“You promised to give him glory and wealth. You shouldn’t forget your own words.”
“Wei Lan is someone I intend to use. He’s fierce, better than Ning Fei when it comes to charging into battle.”
Luo Wei tried to discern the truth behind Long Xuan’s words, but looking at Long Xuan’s slightly smiling face, he couldn’t tell. Long Xuan’s expression was usually cold, so this hint of a smile seemed suspicious to Luo Wei.
“Rest well,” Long Xuan knew there was no point in saying more to Luo Wei. He needed to show it through his actions for Luo Wei to believe that he genuinely wanted to treat him well.
Luo Wei still got up to see him off.
“Stay here, it’s raining outside,” Long Xuan stopped Luo Wei. “I’ll come to see you again tomorrow.”
Luo Wei stood in the room. Tomorrow? When the people in the palace found out he was back, who knew what kind of chaos would unfold? Thinking of this, Luo Wei asked Long Xuan, “Can anyone come in here?”
Long Xuan stopped and turned around. “This will be your residence from now on. Without your permission, no one in the palace can enter. You can rest assured staying here.”
“Farewell, Your Majesty,” with Long Xuan’s words, Luo Wei felt somewhat reassured. At least his place wouldn’t become a battleground for the harem’s power struggles.
Long Xuan left Emerald Island in the rain.
As soon as the imperial carriage crossed the bridge, a palace attendant stopped the procession and informed Long Xuan, “Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager requests your presence.”
Knowing that his birth mother wanted to see him, Long Xuan could only assume it was about Luo Wei. “It’s getting late today. Let’s discuss tomorrow,” Long Xuan said.
The palace attendant stepped aside. Who dared to force Long Xuan to do something? Even if Empress Dowager Liu came personally, she wouldn’t have the audacity.
“Don’t let Prince Yu enter the palace during this time,” Long Xuan suddenly instructed the eunuch beside him. “Even if Empress Dowager Liu summons him, he is not allowed to enter the palace.”
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
Long Xuan half-closed his eyes in the imperial carriage. He couldn’t let Long Xiang meet Luo Wei yet. He couldn’t guarantee that Long Xiang wouldn’t harm Luo Wei upon meeting him. Luo Wei… Long Xuan thought about Luo Wei again. Although Luo Wei showed only verbal disrespect towards him, Long Xuan was sure that he must be thinking of how to retaliate. When Long Xuan opened his eyes, his gaze was like a torch. How could a Prince retaliate against an Emperor? As long as he still held Wei Lan in his hands, what else could Luo Wei do? People’s hearts were unpredictable, but given time and good treatment from now on… Long Xuan looked at his palm, will he not be able to get this person’s heart?
Boundless Dao 
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